Chapter 619 - The troubled Zhou and Kong Consortiums (1/2)

After much thinking, Ren Xiaosu still felt that the Wang Consortium, Zhou Consortium, and Kong Consortium were not suitable for Wang Yuchi and the other students to further their studies at. The most suitable place for them would be Qinghe University in Luoyang City.

With this action from the Wang Consortium, the Zhou Consortium, Kong Consortium, and even the Pyro Company and other smaller consortiums were going to be affected. Only the refugees living outside Luoyang City were the least affected.

The refugees in Luoyang City were not even interested in becoming a so-called stronghold resident.

Ren Xiaosu would have to approach Qin Sheng to arrange for Wang Yuchi and the others to enroll in Qinghe University. He asked Qin Sheng, “Is it true that anyone can get into Qinghe University?”

“Of course,” Qin Sheng nodded and said, “Why? Wang Yuchi and the others wish to attend uni? But I can’t make the decision, though I can ask my teacher to apply for the necessary passes for them. But if they want to attend Qinghe University, they’ll have to take the entrance exam. Spring enrollment will start soon. It might be difficult for them to pass the exam since they didn’t attend the supplementary classes held outside town.”

Ren Xiaosu looked at Wang Yuchi and the others. “Time is very tight. Do y’all think you can pass the exam?”

Wang Yuchi smiled confidently and said, “We’ve never fallen behind in our studies, so there’s no need to attend any supplementary classes. But, Brother Xiaosu, we don’t want to attend university anymore. We just want to stay here and help. Even if we don’t attend uni, we can still study by ourselves. Also, Uncle Fugui needs help. He can’t handle the bandits alone.”

Ren Xiaosu advised him with a smile, “Since y’all’re capable of passing the exam, you should continue your studies. Don’t worry about the bandits. We can have Zhang Xiaoman send some people to escort him. Institutional education is still better than having to learn everything slowly by yourselves.”

Ren Xiaosu had always been serious when it came to learning. Although he did not have the chance to go to university and further his studies, Wang Yuchi and the others were all fine young prospects who should not waste their talents.

Next to them, the Great Hoodwinker hurriedly said with a smile, “That’s right, Zhang Xiaoman can send people to escort Bro Fugui. If those bandits were not based in the Wang Consortium’s territory, we could even send in troops to eliminate them.”

If Wang Fugui’s convoy were escorted by Fortress 178’s troops, wouldn’t they become recognized as the official merchant for Fortress 178? In that case, who would be so foolish as to offend Wang Fugui in the future?

With Wang Fugui’s ability, it would even be possible for him to monopolize the entire northwestern trade route.

By this time, more and more refugees had moved into Stronghold 61. Some small media outlets began to follow up closely on the matter to report about it. For example, they interviewed the new stronghold residents and asked them how they felt and whether the Wang Consortium had made things difficult for them.

These refugees unanimously expressed that the Wang Consortium was really wonderful. They didn’t expect they would get the opportunity to become stronghold residents one day. Moreover, the jobs the Wang Consortium had arranged for them were much easier than working in the mines like they did before. They had already decided to settle down here for the rest of their lives.

The Wang Consortium not only gave them jobs but also paid them well.

It was like buying a carcass with a thousand taels of silver.[1] These 20,000 refugees who were the first to move into the stronghold were the “carcasses” bought by the Wang Consortium with a large sum of money!

The Zhou and Kong Consortiums were also trying their best to keep the refugees in their territories. But how could they possibly do better than offering the refugees a chance to be stronghold residents?

Surely they could not have their troops guard the refugees daily like they were prisoners, right? Besides, they could not enforce something like that either!

The Wang Consortium’s move instantly reversed their losses, turning a disaster into a good outcome!

Half a month later, Stronghold 61’s town started getting lively again. Ren Xiaosu thought the current population in the vicinity of Stronghold 61 must have exceeded the original number of people that used to live here!